Latifah was born and raised in the public housing projects of Newark, New Jersey, the daughter of Rita, a schoolteacher who worked at Irvington High School, and Lancelot Owens, a policeman. Her parents divorced when Latifah was ten. Latifah performed the number "Home" from the musical The Wiz in a high school play. Her stage name, Latifah (لطيفة), meaning "kind" in Arabic, was given to her when she was eight by her cousin. Latifah was raised in the Baptist church, and, while in high school, was a power forward on her basketball team.
She started her career beatboxing for the rap group Ladies Fresh. Latifah was one of the members of the original version of the Flavor Unit MC's, which, at that time, was a crew of MC's grouped around producer DJ Mark The 45 King. In 1988, DJ Mark the 45 King heard a demo version of Latifah's single Princess of the Posse and gave the demo to Fab 5 Freddy, who was the host of Yo! MTV Raps. The recording captured the attention of Tommy Boy Music employee Dante Ross, who immediately signed Latifah, and in 1988 issued her first single, Wrath of My Madness. The track met with a positive response and afforded her the opportunity to launch a European tour, and to perform at the Harlem's famed Apollo Theater. The next year Latifah released her first album, All Hail the Queen, which went on to sell more than 1 million copies.
As she began to earn money, Latifah displayed an interest in investment, putting money into a delicatessen and a video store on the ground floor of the apartment in which she was living. She came to realize that she had a knack for business, and realized that there was an opening for her in record production. In 1991, Latifah organized and became chief executive officer of the Flavor Unit Records and Management Company, headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey. In the same year she was released her sophomore album, called Nature of a Sista'. It was the final album on Tommy Boy Records. By late 1993, the company had signed 17 rap groups, including the very successful Naughty by Nature. In 1993, Latifah recorded a jazz- and reggae-influenced album titled Black Reign. While the album sold more than 500,000 copies, the single U.N.I.T.Y. earned Latifah her first Grammy Award in 1995. In 1998, Co Produced by Ro Smith now CEO of Def Ro Inc. she released her fourth hip hop album Order in the Court. After Order in the Court, Latifah shifted primarily to sung lyrics in soul music and jazz standards, which she had used sparingly in her previous hip hop-oriented records.
In 2004, she released the soul/jazz standards The Dana Owens Album. On July 11, 2007, Latifah sang at the famed Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles as the headlining act in a live jazz concert. Before a crowd of more than 12,400, she was backed by a 10-piece live orchestra and three backup vocalists, The Queen Latifah Orchestra. Latifah performed new arrangements of standards including California Dreaming, first made popular by '60s icons The Mamas & the Papas. In 2007, Latifah released an album entitled Trav'lin' Light. Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Joe Sample, George Duke, Christian McBride, and Stevie Wonder made guest appearances. It was nominated for a Grammy in the "Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album" category. On September 12, 2008, Rolling Stone reported that Queen Latifah is working on a new album that is due in sometime in 2009; this album will be, at least partially, produced by Dr. Dre. She will also work with Missy Elliott.
Acting Success
In the 1990s, Latifah branched out into acting. She made her big screen debut in Spike Lee's interracial romance drama Jungle Fever (1991). The following year, Latifah appeared in the crime thriller Juice with Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur. She soon landed a leading role on the small screen, appearing in the sitcom Living Single from 1993 to '98. The comedy, which also starred Kim Coles, Kim Fields and Erika Alexander, proved to be a ground-breaking show. It remains one of the few sitcoms to focus on a group of African-American women.
A talented performer, Latifah continued to tackle both comedic and dramatic parts. She co-starred in 1996's Set It Off with Jada Pinkett Smith, Kimberly Elise and Vivica A. Fox, playing as a lesbian bank robber. Two years later, Latifah teamed up with Holly Hunter and Danny DeVito for the comedy Living Out Loud (1998). She also appeared with Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie[[i]i] in The Bone Collector (1999).
Perhaps Latifah's most acclaimed film role to date came in the 2002 hit musical Chicago, starring Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger. Her portrayal of prison matron Mama Morton gave her a chance to show off both her singing talents and acting skills. For her work in the film, Latifah earned an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress. She lost to Chicago co-star Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Latifah went on to receive strong reviews for 2003's romantic comedy Bringing Down the House co-starring with Steve Martin. The following year, she experienced some disappointment with Taxi, which co-starred Jimmy Fallon. The comedy proved to be a critical and commercial dud. She fared better with Beauty Shop (2005) and her voice-over work in the hit animated film Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006).
In 2007, Queen Latifah again delighted movie-goers with her musical talents. She appeared as Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray with John Travolta. Her crime caper Mad Money (2008) with Diane Keaton and Katie Holmes received much colder reception. Returning to drama, Latifah gave a strong performance in The Secret Life of Bees (2008).
On the small screen, Latifah has made a number of guest television appearances over the years, including on the shows 30 Rock and Single Ladies. She also co-starred in the 2012 TV remake of Steel Magnolias with Alfre Woodard, Phylicia Rashad and Jill Scott. Latifah branched out in a new direction the following year. She will enter the daytime television market with a new talk show. The Queen Latifah Show will debut in the fall of 2013. The program promises to be a mix of interviews and comedic and musical performances, according to BET.com.
In addition to acting, Queen Latifah serves as a spokesperson for CoverGirl cosmetics. She even has her own line with the company: The Queen Collection.
I Know Where I
Queen Latifah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though the night black as my skin
There's a light burning bright showing me the way
But I know where I've been
There's a cry in distance
It's a voice that comes from deep within
There's a cry asking why
'Cause I know where I've been
There's a road we've been travellin'
Lost so many on the way
But the riches will be plenty
With the price, the price we had to pay
There's a dream in the future
There's a struggle that we have yet to win
And there's pride in my heart
'Cause I know where I'm going, yes I do
And I know where I've been, yeah
There's a road that we must travel
There's a promise that we must make
Oh the riches will be plenty
Oh the dream in the future
Oh the struggle we must win
Use that pride in our heart
To lift us up
Lord knows i know
Where I've been
The song "I Know Where I've Been" by Queen Latifah in the movie Hairspray is a powerful expression of hope, resilience, and determination in the face of adversity, oppression, and discrimination. The lyrics convey a sense of darkness, struggle, and pain, but also a strong belief in the power of community, unity, and faith to overcome obstacles and reach a better future.
In the first verse, the singer refers to the darkness surrounding her, both literally and metaphorically, as a black woman facing racism and marginalization. However, she also sees a light that guides her, a source of hope and inspiration that reminds her of where she has been and where she is going. The second verse highlights the internal struggle and questioning that arises from the experience of oppression, as the singer wonders why things are the way they are and hopes for a better answer ahead. The chorus reaffirms the strength and resilience of the community, the sacrifices made, and the faith and pride that sustain them in the face of adversity.
The bridge of the song encapsulates the overarching message of hope and determination through three key elements: the road we must travel, the promise we must make, and the struggle we must win. These elements reflect the ongoing journey towards equality, justice, and freedom for all, the need to commit to this goal, and the challenges that lie ahead. However, the song ends on a note of upliftment and triumph, as the singer expresses her confidence in knowing where she's been and where she's going, and encourages others to use their pride to lift themselves up and keep on moving forward.
Overall, "I Know Where I've Been" is a powerful anthem of hope, resilience, and determination that draws on the struggles and triumphs of the past to inspire and empower the present and the future.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a light in the darkness
In the midst of despair, there's hope
Though the night black as my skin
Even in darkest times, my spirit won't falter
There's a light burning bright showing me the way
My faith keeps me on the right path
But I know where I've been
My past has shaped me and given me strength
There's a cry in distance
There are still those suffering and seeking justice
It's a voice that comes from deep within
The struggle for equality is personal and emotional
There's a cry asking why
There's confusion and frustration surrounding oppression
I pray the answer's up ahead yeah
I trust that there's a brighter future waiting
'Cause I know where I've been
Through my heritage and struggles, I have a sense of purpose
There's a road we've been travellin'
Generations before me have faced these same injustices
Lost so many on the way
The fight for change has come at a great cost
But the riches will be plenty
A world without oppression will be worth the sacrifice
With the price, the price we had to pay
The struggle for equality has been long and costly
There's a dream in the future
A better world is possible and worth fighting for
There's a struggle that we have yet to win
Systemic oppression still exists and needs to be dismantled
And there's pride in my heart
I am proud of my heritage and my resilience
'Cause I know where I'm going, yes I do
I am determined to keep fighting for a better future
And I know where I've been, yeah
My past has given me a sense of direction and purpose
There's a road that we must travel
The fight for equality is ongoing and requires our commitment
There's a promise that we must make
We must promise to continue the fight for a just and equal society
Oh the riches will be plenty
A world without oppression will be abundant with reward
Oh the dream in the future
The vision of a just world is within reach
Oh the struggle we must win
The fight for equality is ongoing and requires our resilience
Use that pride in our heart
Our heritage and resilience can fuel our continued fight
To lift us up
We can rely on our history to provide strength and hope
Lord knows i know
I am deeply aware of my heritage and its importance
Where I've been
My past has given me a sense of belonging and purpose
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MillieMercedes
I was thinking the same.
World is actually mass
Masses have an IQ of average or less than average IQ people.
What Latifah is capable of is beyond their capacity to judge where she belongs.
It's completely fine because I am sure she know who she is and looks like an extremely sought person. A recognition from the world won't change the fact that she is awesome.
Many people in our daily life are also brilliant but not everyone is brilliant because they want recognition from the world.
There have been historical legends who didn't get recognition while they were alive. It didn't stop them one bit Frome being the best in what they do.
Some people in humans will always be awesome. Always inspire , always teach, always leave a mark.
I love her.
And I give my recognition to her.
"The Queen"
@leslietolson
There's a light in the darkness
Though the night black as my skin
There's a light burning bright showing me the way
But I know where I've been
There's a cry in distance
It's a voice that comes from deep within
There's a cry asking why
I pray the answer's up ahead yeah
'cause I know where I've been
There's a road we've been travellin'
Lost so many on the way
But the riches will be plenty
With the price, the price we had to pay
There's a dream in the future
There's a struggle that we have yet to win
And there's pride in my heart
'cause I know where I'm going, yes I do
And I know where I've been, yeah
There's a road that we must travel
There's a promise that we must make
Oh the riches will be plenty
Oh the dream in the future
Oh the struggle we must win
Use that pride in our heart
To lift us up
Lord knows i know
Where I've been
@emz10000
This is one of the most powerful and important songs to have ever come out of a musical.
@manuelorozco7760
Amen! Hairspray brings back memories for me of my early teens. I was 14 when the movie remake was released I saw it on Christmas Eve 2007 and saw the stage version for the first time a month later.
@Jetrules231
em. Probably this, run and tell that, and big blonde and beautiful are the most important songs from musicals (if you don't know, run and tell that is about pride and big blonde and beautiful is about self love)
@takiagilmore2571
em. ikr
@Mihoshika
DEH tops this, imo.
@DOMFRONT61
Nath em.
@curtwall7089
Queen latifah is a one woman show she can sing rap and act and has acted in theatre movies and tv
Can see why she has got a hollywood walk of a fame shes a talented woman
@rondellregan
Lauryn Hill
@darraghcorkery1805
The last holiday..... I seen it a lot of times I’m always crying
@lilamontoya5609
Taxi was pretty funny